Meriwether’s Nomination to Export-import Bank Post Evokes Protest

Rep. Seymour Halpern, New York Republican who serves on the International Finance Subcommittee of the House Banking Committee, today protested the nomination by President Kennedy of Charles M. Meriwether, of Alabama, former campaign manager of retired Admiral John Crommelin, an anti-Semitic agitator, to serve as a director of the United States Export-Import Bank. The White House today sent the Meriwether appointment to Congress for confirmation.

In a personal message to Mr. Kennedy, Rep. Halpern cited Mr. Meriwether’s connections with Crommelin and “White Citizens Council” groups. Rep. Halpern asked if the new nominee was unaware that Crommelin, whom he assisted, published attacks on “the Communist-Jewish conspiracy” to “mix the blood of White Christian people of the South with Negroes.”

Citing his concern that Mr. Meriwether should be given authority as director of a United States agency dealing with the finance of projects in Israel, African nations, and other countries, Rep. Halpern termed the nomination a “tragic error” that might mar the international reputation of America.

Rep. Halpern asked that the nomination be reconsidered. He said that as a member of the International Finance Subcommittee which handles legislation affecting the Export-Import Bank, he felt assignment of Mr. Meriwether to an international role would “negate our professed goals” of winning friends in underdeveloped Afro-Asian nations.